Earlier this month a Conference USA game was postponed due, as they all are, to COVID-19 infections -- but not due to infections in either program. North Texas elected not to make a planned Halloween visit to UTEP due to the spread of the virus within the El Paso community, a move that Conference USA supported.
With their Nov. 7 home date against Florida International canceled due to virus issues at FIU, the Miners' next home game is Nov. 21 against UAB.
That game is still on, but it won't be a home game. Conference USA announced Tuesday the UAB-UTEP game is still on, but it will be moved from El Paso's Sun Bowl to Grande Stadium in Midland. The game will also move up a day, from Saturday Nov. 21 to Friday, Nov. 20.
Midland is 305 miles east of El Paso, a 4.5-hour drive on I-20.
Grande Communications Stadium is a 15,000-seat venue that serves as the home stadium for both of Midland's public high schools, as well as the various minor league teams that call Midland home. (It was also the site of a 63-21 loss suffered by yours truly way back when.)
UTEP has played just two home games in 2020, and none since Sept. 19. The Miners are slated to host make-up games with Southern Miss (Dec. 4) and North Texas (Dec. 12) later this year and, unless COVID significantly retreats its assault on El Paso between now and then, Dana Dimel's team should probably make itself comfortable in its new home away from home.
"We feel hosting UAB in Midland will give us the best opportunity to get on the field and compete," Dimel said. "While we are disappointed that we will not be playing in front of our home crowd, we are looking forward to the opportunity to play the game at Grande Stadium."
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.